This interview series is about professionals and why they do what they do. As you know I am a coach and an occupational therapist and I spend my days learning about what other people do, what motivates them, what doesn’t, what their interests are, how they got to where they are and how all of this impacts on their health and wellbeing both positive and negatively. People fascinate me, I love to work with people and facilitate them towards individual, team, health, professional goals.
Clair Turner – Coach
Business – Clair Turner Coaching
www.clairturner.com.au
1. What attracted you to open your business Clair Turner Coaching?
Coaching was like a breath of fresh air to me! The focus on the individual’s unique story and potential, on their dreams, desires, and ambitions is a very different approach from “talking the problem, which is more where my professional background had been. Coaching opened up a new way of relating where the client is empowered and has agency, especially in the coaching process itself.
2.What services do you offer through Clair Turner Coaching?
My coaching services include Leadership Development (for individuals and teams), Conflict Coaching (a robust and cost efficient alternative to mediation), the Human Synergistics suite of services such as the Life Styles and Group Styles inventories; these tools evaluate and then work to build upon existing capabilities in both individuals and teams.
I very often work with people at the point of change, for example, organisational restructure, redundancy, return to work after maternity leave, divorce and the like. This is a rich and sometimes really difficult time for people. It is such a pleasure to support people in meeting the challenges of these times and observing their growth.
3. What are the different environments that you work and offer your services?
Government Departments, peak bodies and regulatory authorities, and individuals who are building their respective small businesses.
4. How has your business evolved?
Well, the beauty of the coaching realm is that it opens your mind to where you may be of assistance and support to others. I like the variety of services, and I love the fact that my referral network is strong from previous clientele who have worked with me. I am loving working with teams and forming collegial relationships with other small consulting groups.
5. What disruptors do you see having a major effect within the industry/s in which you work?
Well, election cycles never help! Organisations hold their (collective) breath and can tend to pull back on their commitments to outside consultants.
There also seems to be a bit of a seasonal element, so best to just take January off (which is not a bad thing at all).
Interestingly the economy doing it hard is not necessarily a bad thing for coaching, as retrenchment and organisational changes abound, creating work for coaches.
6. What would you like to see change on a national or international level?
I would love to see organisations embrace coaching more fully, and to engage practitioners or undertake employee training to develop the coaching conversation and skills in the workplace. It creates a new, healthy and refreshing dynamic.
Coaching can be done online, you can take it to the world, and it’s a great thing to get up at 6 am to coach someone from another country, time zone, race or culture. I believe forging these connections helps to build compassion and tolerance in our world.
7. What do you bring to your client’s that is unique and you know makes a difference?
Having worked with people for a long time now, I am fearless in my coaching, and this dynamic allows for deep work to be done by the individual (or the team). My preparedness to deep dive and to challenge my client inevitably brings rich rewards. And we always have a lot of fun too! The role of humour in the growth process is underestimated.
8. What book/s are you reading at present?
I have just put down Michelle Obama’s Becoming, The Other Americans by Laila Lalami, and revisiting a favourite, Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning.
9. What do you do to take care of yourself so that you can turn up for all the roles that you are involved in your life?
Regular yoga, a bit of meditation, walking and talking with buddies along the beach, and reading, always reading. Cooking also relaxes me.
10. What is one thing on your bucket list that you intend to do soon? And Why?
This might make you laugh, but I really am looking forward to spending more time working! I have had a seriously unwell child and this has taken a lot of time and attention away from my work role. Very excited to get back out there.
If you would like to read more on what Claire does and the services that she offers her website is www.clairturner.com.au
